Montana dictated the tempo and controlled the game from start to finish to post a win in Moscow on Thursday.
The Griz held Idaho to 30.4 percent shooting in the first half to build a 31-21 lead at the break, then pulled away from the Vandals by forcing 20 turnovers and hitting timely 3-pointers after halftime en rout to a 70-57 win in front of 813.
The win moves Montana to 2-1 in Big Sky Conference play, 7-9 overall. Idaho is now 0-2 in league play, 5-8 overall.
Montana sophomore guard Ahmaad Rorie led the Griz with 19 points, including four 3-pointers. He also dished out four assists as UM notched 12 assists on 20 made field goals. Sophomore guard Michael Oguine scored 14 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. Senior Brandon Gfeller started in place of freshman Sayeed Pridgett and scored 14 points, including hitting four of Montana’s 12 3-pointers.
Sophomore Bobby Moorehead hit a pair of 3-poitners and scored 10 points off the bench. His layup with 2:07 left gave Montana a 68-51 lead, its largest on a night the Griz never trailed.
Idaho kept the action close down the stretch thanks to shooting 62 percent after halftime. But the Vandals missed 10 of their 24 free throw attempts and made just three 3-pointers. The Vandals notched 30 points in the paint as Victor Sanders slashed his way to a team-high 20 points but the advantage inside was not enough to off-set Montana’s 21 points off turnovers.
The Grizzlies play at Eastern Washington on Saturday. The Eagles beat Montana State 82-64 on Thursday night to move to 2-0 in league play, 8-0 at home and 10-5 overall.
